Cromwell Green Entrance

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what consultations the House authorities held with English Heritage prior to implementing the recent changes to St Stephen's Entrance; whether those changes will be permanent or temporary; and what steps the Commission plans to take to ensure that better protection from inclement weather and other improved facilities are provided for visitors to the House.

John Thurso: The changes at St Stephen's Entrance are intended to be temporary to reduce the queuing time at our public entrances. Work is progressing to improve the permanent public search facility at Cromwell Green. The redesign will deliver a more efficient search process and increase capacity. These changes are temporary and do not affect the building directly, so there was no prior consultation with English Heritage. However, work is also under way to explore, with English Heritage and Westminster city council, installing a permanent canopy to the pedestrian walkway leading to the Cromwell Green Search Point, which would provide protection in bad weather.

Terrorism

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will place in the Library a list of the members of the IRA who have been beneficiaries of the use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy.

Theresa Villiers: Based on an assessment of the records held by my Department, the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM) was granted in Northern Ireland 365 times between 1979 and 2002, but this total does not include the period between 1987 and 1997 for which records cannot currently be found. The Department does not hold information which specifically confirms whether individuals who received the RPM were members of prescribed groups. There are no cases where the RPM has been granted since the current Government came to office in May 2010, and the records indicate that there are no instances where the RPM was granted after 2002.

Administration of Justice

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many single justice procedure notices HM Courts and Tribunal Service could send out annually if it used the opportunities to do so within the criteria proposed in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.

Shailesh Vara: It will be a matter for prosecuting authorities to decide whether to use this procedure and to send out single justice procedure notices.
	The Impact Assessment for this policy is available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/289202/regulatory-cases-ia.pdf

Convictions

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been convicted of an offence contrary to section 4(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, where the person to whom controlled drugs were supplied or offered to be supplied was a child, in each of the last four years.

Damian Green: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database does not include the circumstances behind each case beyond the description provided in the statute. It is not possible to separately identify from this centrally held information the age of an individual to whom an offender has been convicted of supplying illegal drugs. This detailed information may be held on the court record but due to the size and complexity is not reported centrally to the MOJ. As such, the information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Females: Islam

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure that women's rights are not undermined by the use of Sharia law.

Shailesh Vara: The Government is committed to the protection and promotion of women’s rights. Sharia law has no jurisdiction in England and Wales and the Government has no intention of changing this position. Everyone is equal before the law.

Open Prisons

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what offences were committed by prisoners serving their sentences in open prisons.

Jeremy Wright: Open prisons have been used since 1936, because they are the most effective means of ensuring that prisoners are suitably risk-assessed before they are released into the community under appropriate licence conditions. These prisons also provide effective supervision for prisoners who do not require the security conditions of the closed estate, because they have been assessed as having a low risk of harm to the public and a low risk of absconding by the independent Parole Board and/or NOMS.
	Indeterminate sentence prisoners located in open conditions have been rigorously risk assessed and categorised as being of a low enough risk to the public to warrant their placement in an open prison. They will have previously spent time in prisons with higher levels of security, before being transferred to open conditions if recommended by the Parole Board—or directed through NOMS.
	The main purpose of open conditions is to test prisoners in conditions more similar to those that they will face in the community. Time spent in open prisons affords prisoners the opportunity to find work, re-establish family ties, reintegrate into the community and ensure housing needs are met. For many prisoners, in particular those, such as ISPs who have spent a considerable amount of time in custody; these are essential components for successful reintegration in the community and therefore an important factor in protecting the public. To release these prisoners directly from a closed prison without the resettlement benefits of the open estate would undoubtedly lead to higher levels of post-release reoffending. The reoffending rates for those released from open prisons are low when compared to all prisoners released from custody in England and Wales.
	The requested information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Prisoners serving an immediate custodial sentence in the open estate1 by offence group, 31 December 2013, England and Wales 
			  All 
			 Violence against the person 1,227 
			 Sexual offences 215 
			 Robbery 505 
			 Burglary 202 
			 Theft and handling 160 
			 Fraud and forgery 189 
			 Drug offences 1,115 
			 Motoring offences 25 
			 Other offences 453 
			 Offence not recorded 1 
			 All 4,092 
			 1 Based on predominant function of the prison and therefore excludes prisoners held in open wings of closed establishments. Note: Data Sources and Quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to his answer of 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 636W, on personal injury: compensation, what recent discussions he has had with members of the Core Group on Whiplash and other members of the wider stakeholder community.

Shailesh Vara: The Ministry of Justice has formed medical and legal sub groups to provide further assistance with the implementation of the Government’s whiplash reform programme. My colleague Lord Faulks, Minister of State for Justice, wrote to all working group members on 20 March to prioritise their work programme.
	On 2 May 2014, Lord Faulks sought views on proposed fixed costs for medical reports and related issues. The responses will be considered before amendments to the Road Traffic Accident Protocol and Civil Procedure Rules are finalised and presented to the Civil Procedure Rule Committee.
	Information on membership of the sub groups, copies of the letters from Lord Faulks and other associated documents, together with an update on progress are available on the MOJ website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/civil-justice-reforms/personal-injury-claims

Personal Injury: Compensation

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the effects on the economy of reforming the UK's civil procedure rules to clarify courts' powers to strike out cases due to exaggerated or fabricated personal injury claims; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the expected cost to the economy of (a) detected and (b) undetected personal injury insurance fraud in 2014-15;
	(3)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the economy of (a) detected and (b) undetected personal injury insurance fraud in the last year for which figures are available.

Shailesh Vara: No figures are available for the number of victims of, or average loss incurred from, personal injury fraud. Figures for 2011 published by the Association of British Insurers describe 7% of all motor claims in 2011-worth £441 million-as fraudulent. In addition, they estimate that a further £1 billion of motor insurance fraud went undetected in 2011.
	The Government is committed to turning the tide on fraudulent personal injury claims. To this end we are working closely with stakeholders across the industry to secure better data on motor accident cases, including the number of fraudulent cases.
	No estimate is available of the economic effects that might accrue from clarifying the courts’ powers to strike out claims that are exaggerated or fabricated. However, we are considering what reform might be appropriate to the law in this area.

Prisons: Recycling

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisons have recycling units run by (a) prisoners and (b) outside contractors.

Jeremy Wright: There are currently 108 prisons that have recycling units. Of the 95 recycling units operated by public sector prisons, three of them are supervised by private contractors. 13 private sector prisons also have recycling units, many of these units employ prisoners.

Sexual Offences Act 2003

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there have been with offence code (a) 21, (b) 22, (c) 23, (d) 71, (e) 72, (f) 73, (g) 74, (h) 17Z, (i) 17B, (j) 19C, (k) 19D, (l) 19E, (m) 19F, (n) 19H, (o) 20A, (p) 20B, (q) 22B and (r) 88A under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (i) in each of the Crown courts in Greater Manchester and (ii) at the lowest available level.

Jeremy Wright: The proportion of offenders given custody for sexual offences has increased since 2003.
	The Government takes very seriously all matters relating to the sexual abuse of children and adults. Our laws in these areas are rightly robust and clear. The 2003 Act, which came into effect in May 2004, significantly modernised and strengthened the laws on sexual offences in England and Wales. We have already introduced automatic life sentences for a second serious sexual or violent offence, and we have announced plans to end automatic early release for child rapists, terrorists and all dangerous offenders.
	The number of offenders found guilty at the Crown Court in Greater Manchester police force area, for sexual offences with the offence codes specified from 2008 to 2012 (latest data available), can be viewed in the table.
	Court proceedings statistics for the year 2013 are planned to be published by the Ministry of Justice in May 2014.
	
		
			 Offenders found guilty at the crown court in Greater Manchester police force area, for selected sexual offences, 2008-121,2 
			 Offence code Code description 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 17b Sexual Assault on a Male Child under 13 2 5 4 5 3 
			 19d Rape of a Female Child under 16 21 27 16 32 24 
			 19c Rape of a Female aged 16 and over 38 36 33 38 42 
			 19g Rape of a Male Child under 16 1 1 2 4 3 
			 19f Rape of a Male aged 16 and over 0 1 0 2 3 
			 19e Rape of a Female Child under 13 7 7 15 12 14 
			 19h Rape of a Male Child under 13 5 3 8 1 1 
			 20a Sexual Assault on a Female aged 13 and over 29 41 46 52 56 
			 20b Sexual Assault on a Female Child under 13 24 12 30 12 25 
			 21 Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13 9 3 12 11 11 
			 223 Causing or inciting Sexual Activity 6 8 9 9 19 
		
	
	
		
			 22b4 Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16 32 35 41 34 40 
			 23 Incest or Familial Sexual Offences 3 7 3 7 4 
			 71 Abuse of Children through Prostitution and Pornography 1 5 2 2 1 
			 72 Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation 5 7 0 1 1 
			 73 Abuse of Position of Trust of a Sexual Nature 1 0 0 2 0 
			 74 Gross Indecency with Children 6 2 11 4 3 
			 88a Sexual Grooming 4 0 10 4 5 
			 1 The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Includes the following sections under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, sections 4, 10, 11, 12. 4 Includes the following sections under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, sections 9. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Youth Courts

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many members of the bench of the Youth Court were (a) women and (b) men in the most recent year for which information is available;
	(2)  what proportion of members of the bench of the Youth Court were of each ethnic category in the most recent year for which information is available;
	(3)  what proportion of members of the bench of the Youth Court were (a) 20 to 30, (b) 31 to 40, (c) 41 to 50, (d) 51 to 60, (e) 61 to 70 and (f) over 70 years old in the most recent year for which information is available;
	(4)  what the socio-economic background is of each member of the bench of the Youth Court.

Shailesh Vara: The Government is committed to judicial diversity-it is important that magistrates reflect the diverse communities in which they serve.
	To provide the requested information would require each of the 47 local advisory committees to check the individual personal records of all of the youth court magistrates in their respective areas. This would incur disproportionate costs. Information on magistrates’ diversity more generally is published on the judiciary website:
	http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications-and-reports/statistics/magistrates-statistics
	In relation to the hon. Member’s question about the age profile of magistrates who sit in the youth court, I can clarify that the statutory retirement age for all magistrates is 70.

Better Care Fund

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to put safeguards in place to ensure that services within an individual clinical commissioning group area are not put at risk if that area is performing satisfactorily against its required targets, even if there is unsatisfactory performance at county level under the Better Care Fund requirements.

Norman Lamb: The policy framework for the Better Care Fund, as set out in an annex to the NHS Planning Guidance published in December 2013, has been designed to improve the health and care services on which local people depend.
	Where a local area achieves the ambitions set out in its plan, it will receive the full pay for performance element—since this is a clear indication that local commissioners are investing in services that achieve the right outcomes for local people and that no remedial action is necessary via contingency or recovery plans. The performance of other localities or the performance nationally will have no bearing on these payments. Funding will not be withdrawn for underperformance in 2015-16 but that local area will be given support to improve performance for the benefit of local people.
	There is no requirement for the Government to put further safeguards in place, since the current policy is clear and has been widely communicated to local areas and throughout the health and social care system.

Eggs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage children and pregnant women to eat more eggs.

Jane Ellison: Eggs can make a useful contribution to intakes of protein, vitamins and minerals within a balanced diet. The Government promotes a healthy balanced diet as visually depicted in the eatwell plate. The eatwell plate depicts the types and proportions of the main food groups we should eat, one of which is meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein.
	The eatwell plate applies to most people, including pregnant women. Between the ages of two and five, children should gradually move towards eating the same foods as the rest of the family, in the proportions shown on the eatwell plate.
	The eatwell plate is widely used within Government, the school curriculum, as well as by education, food industry and charities. It is promoted through the NHS Choices website and forms the basis of the Change4Life social marketing healthy eating messages.

Fertility: Males

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research the Health Protection Agency has funded on male fertility and sperm counts in the last five years; and if he will publish the findings of such research.

Jane Ellison: The Public Health England (PHE) Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards (and its predecessor organisation, the Health Protection Agency) does not have any specific research ongoing in respect of male sperm counts affecting fertility. PHE does though have a small experimental research programme investigating whether the genetic material carried by sperm can be affected by environmental factors including chemicals. In conjunction with the Medical Research Council, PHE has published work in the journal Epigenetics in 2012 showing that smoking can affect the composition of genetic material in sperm. The effect, if any, of this on fertility or the developing embryo was not determined. This work is continuing by PHE.

General Practitioners

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made by his Department of the effects on GP services nationally of changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and the minimum practice income guarantee.

Daniel Poulter: We have reduced the number of indicators in the Quality and Outcomes Framework by more than a third. This is intended to free up time for general practitioners (GPs) to provide more personalised care which includes the new responsibility of providing a named GP for all of their patients aged 75 and over.
	The money released from the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) will be reinvested in general practice. NHS England will use the clinical data extracted from GP practice systems to ensure continued transparency about quality and outcomes in relation to the areas where indicators have been retired from the QOF.
	In 2013, the Government announced it would phase out minimum practice income guarantee (MPIG) top-up payments over a seven year period, starting in the financial year 2014-15. The Government considers MPIG payments to be inequitable because practices serving similar populations get paid very different amounts per patient.
	The national health service will be supporting the most affected practices to adjust as these payments are gradually phased out over seven years.
	The money released by doing this will be reinvested in the basic payments made to all General Medical Services practices, which are based on numbers of patients and key determinants of practice workload, such as patient age, health needs and the unavoidable costs of providing services in rural areas.

Health: Screening

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to maintain NHS Health Checks when funding ring fencing is removed from the public health budget.

Jane Ellison: No decision has been made regarding ring fencing for 2015-16. It is a statutory requirement that local authorities offer a NHS health check risk assessment to their entire eligible population every five years. The Public Health Regulations also request that local authorities demonstrate year on year improvement on uptake which is also an indicator in the Public Health Outcome Framework.

Medical Records: Databases

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what clinical fields were disclosed in the Health and Social Care Information Centre's (HSCIC) data release to Dr Foster Intelligence (Row ID 448 on the HSCIC's register of approved data releases); and how many individual patient records were disclosed.

Daniel Poulter: The Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) is published every quarter. The entry in the data release register for Dr Foster Intelligence (Row ID 448) covered three releases in April, July and October 2013. The SHMI data fields are released at "provider spell level", i.e. a continuous period of time spent as a patient within a single trust, and the number of provider spells in each of the quarterly releases is summarised as follows:
	
		
			 SHMI publication Data period Number of records 
			 April 2013 October 2009 to September 2012 25,726,241 
			 July 2013 January 2010 to December 2012 25,716,443 
			 October 2013 April 2010 to March 2013 25,691,571 
		
	
	The extracts of data released to Dr Foster Intelligence consist of three datasets and are listed in the following table:
	
		
			 Summarised extract for statistical modelling 
			 Field names Description 
			 ID A unique identifier for a row in the extract 
			 INDICATOR_ CODE The IC ID for the SHMI (“100699”) 
			 BATCH_ID IC internal identifier 
			 IMPORTFILE_ ID IC internal identifier 
			 ADMIMETH Category number as defined for the field ADMIMETH in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
			 CHARLSON_ INDEX Category number as defined for the field CHARLSON_INDEX in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
			 DENOMINATOR The sum of Died and Survived for provider p with diagnosis grouping d and case-mix j, as defined in Table 4.1 of the SHMI specification 
			 YEAR_INDEX Index (1-3) identifying the relative financial year of the spell's P_SPELL_DISDATE: 1 = most recent year 
			 PROVIDER PROCODE_MAPPED field in original data 
			 DIAG_GROUP Category number as defined for the field DIAG_GROUP in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
			 STARTAGE Category number as defined for the field STARTAGE in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
		
	
	
		
			 GENDER Category number as defined for the field GENDER in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
			 NUMERATOR The sum of Died for provider p with diagnosis grouping d and case-mix 1, as defined in Table 4.1 of the SHMI specification 
		
	
	
		
			 Hospital Episode Statistics—Office for National Statistics (HES-ONS) linked extract at provider spell level 
			 Field names Description 
			 BATCH_ID IC internal identifier 
			 P_SPELL_ NUMBER Identifies unique provider spells 
			 P_SPELL_ START_AGE Age of the patient at the start of the spell 
			 SEX Sex of patient 
			 P_SPELL_ DMIDATE Admission date to hospital 
			 P_SPELL_ ADMIMETH Method of admission to hospital 
			 DIAG_01 Primary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_02 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_03 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_04 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_05 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_06 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_07 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_08 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_09 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_10 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_11 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_12 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_13 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_14 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_15 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_16 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_17 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_18 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_19 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 DIAG_20 Secondary diagnosis code 
			 P_SPELL_ CHARLSON Charlson Comorbidity index 
			 SURVIVED Survived flag : 1 if the patient survived, 0 if the patient died 
			 DIED Died flag : 1 if the patient died, 0 if the patient survived 
			 AGE_GROUP Category number as defined for the field STARTAGE in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
			 ADMIMETH Category number as defined for the field ADMIMETH in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
			 GENDER Category number as defined for the field GENDER in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
			 DIAG_GROUP Category number as defined for the field DIAG_GROUP in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
			 CHARLSON_INDEX Category number as defined for the field CHARLSON_INDEX in the Data Processing section of the SHMI specification 
			 YEAR_INDEX Index (1-3) identifying the relative financial year of the spell's P_SPELL_DISDATE: 1 = most recent year 
			 DIAG_EPIORDER EPIORDER for the episode where the diagnosis codes originate 
		
	
	
		
			 DIAG_EPIKEY EPIKEY for the episode where the diagnosis codes originate 
			 DIAG_FYEAR FYEAR for the episode where the diagnosis codes originate 
			 P_SPELL_DISMETH Discharge method for provider spell 
			 P_SPELL_DISDATE Discharge date for provider spell 
			 CLASSPAT Patient classification 
			 PROCODET_ MAPPED Provider code for spell mapped to current providers 
			 DOD HES-ONS linked date of death 
			 TRETSPEF The specialty in which the consultant was working during the period of care 
			 IMD04RK Index of Multiple Deprivation Overall Ranking 
			 SITETRET Site code of treatment 
		
	
	
		
			 Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) Indicator Data 
			 Field names Description 
			 Indicator Code Unique indicator code 
			 Numerator Count of observed events 
			 Denominator Count of observed procedures 
			 Observed Count of observed events 
			 Expected The expected number of events calculated by the risk model 
			 Value The SHMI value 
			 PO_LL 99.8% lower limit using Poisson distribution 
			 PO_UL 99.8% upper limit using Poisson distribution 
			 PO_Banding Banding dependent on the 99.8% Poisson limits 
			 OD_LL 95% lower limit trimmed for over-dispersion 
			 OD_UL 95% upper limit trimmed for over-dispersion 
			 OD_Banding Banding dependent on the 95% trimmed for over-dispersion limits 
			 Provider The unique organisation provider code

Medical Records: Databases

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what powers (a) his Department, (b) the NHS Information Centre and (c) the Health and Social Care Information Centre charge commercial companies to receive downloads of NHS patient data.

Daniel Poulter: Section 271 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 provides powers to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), allowing the organisation to charge commercial companies for receiving data. In line with this and government policy, HSCIC charge on a not-for-profit basis; this is to recover costs for administering the application process and preparing data extracts.
	HSCIC’s predecessor organisation, the NHS Information Centre, also applied a not-for-profit charge for administering the application process and preparing data extracts.

Medicine: Education

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of current provision of pain education for undergraduate medical students.

Daniel Poulter: The content and standard of medical training, including in regards to pain management, is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC), which is an independent statutory body. It has the general function of promoting high standards of education and co-ordinating all stages of education to ensure that medical students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice.
	Medical schools design curricula for undergraduate medical education. In doing so they must ensure that teaching meets the standards of the GMC in order to both gain and maintain GMC recognition of their course.
	The Government has mandated Health Education England (HEE) to provide national leadership on education, training and workforce development in the national health service. HEE will work with stakeholders to influence training curricula as appropriate.

NHS: Staff

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage the retention of experienced NHS staff.

Daniel Poulter: Across the national health service in England; it is the responsibility of employers to ensure they retain sufficient experienced staff to deliver services to patients. Since 2010, the percentage of staff leaving the NHS each year has remained broadly stable, between 8% and 9%1, and the number of professionally qualified clinical staff has risen by 2.6% to 570,4102.
	We have established Health Education England which is responsible for planning and delivering a secure and stable NHS work force which will help the NHS retain experienced staff.
	The ability of the NHS to retain staff will be linked to their experience of working in the NHS including their wider reward package made up of remuneration; training and development; health and wellbeing; staff engagement and equalities issues.
	From August 2014, we are introducing Total Reward statements to support staff retention and motivation, by providing NHS staff with details of the overall value of their employment package.
	In 2012 and 2013, 81%3 of staff received job related training, learning and development and 56% of managers took a positive interest in staff health and wellbeing, up from 55% in 2012.
	We commission NHS Employers to support NHS trusts to improve staff health and wellbeing including good practice on staff engagement (up to 3.74/5 in 2013 from 3.68 in 2012). Also, fewer staff experienced discrimination at work, 11%, down from 12% in 2012 after our introduction of a new equalities framework which 90%
	4
	of health and social care employers use.
	1 Calculated from Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) NHS Workforce Statistics, December 2013 turnover tables.
	2 (HSCIC) NHS Workforce Statistics, December 2013.
	3 All figures taken from NHS Staff Survey 2012 and 2013.
	4 Provided by the NHS Employers organisation website.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions his Department has had on changing the name of the condition post-traumatic stress disorder to post-traumatic stress injury.

Norman Lamb: No such discussions have been had. National health service clinicians use the tenth edition of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) for mental and behavioural disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined in the ICD-10 as a condition which “arises as a delayed or protracted response to a stressful event or situation (of either brief or long duration) of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature, which is likely to cause pervasive distress in almost anyone”.

Equal Pay

Meg Hillier: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of progress in closing the gender pay gap.

Jennifer Willott: Analysis published by the DCMS last month showed that the gender pay gap is falling steadily overtime—and that the full-time pay gap has now almost been eliminated for women under the age of 40.
	We are tackling the pay gap and its causes. From next month, the right to request flexible working will be available to all employees; we are also working with employers to promote greater transparency through the Think Act Report initiative.

Equality Act 2010

Julian Huppert: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities if he will undertake a review of continued efficacy of Section 193(5) and (6) of the Equalities Act 2010; and if he will include in that review an estimate of the number of bodies to which that legislation applies.

Helen Grant: The Government will review the Equality Act 2010 next year in order to meet the parliamentary commitment to conduct post-legislative scrutiny. This review will provide a progress update on developments since the legislation was introduced and a factual overview of how the legislation has operated.
	No central record exists of the number of bodies to which sections 193(5) and (6) apply.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities in what areas the Equality and Human Rights Commission has plans to improve its performance.

Helen Grant: The Equality and Human Rights Commission is an independent body and is responsible for its own performance plans.
	The Commission has improved its performance across a wide range of areas in the last three years including the quality and delivery of its work, its value for money and its stewardship of resources. The Commission is expected to maintain progress to deliver its strategic priorities effectively and efficiently. Details of the performance improvements are set out in the Commission's Annual Report and Accounts.
	http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/corporate-reporting/annual-reports/
	The Commission's plans for improvement for the 2014-15 financial year are set out in the Commission's published business plan.
	http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/vision-and-mission/our-business-plan/

Females: Public Appointments

Pat Glass: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities what progress the Government has made on increasing the representation of women in public life.

Sajid Javid: There has been real progress in getting more women into politics and this is the most gender diverse Parliament ever. We are also making real progress on increasing the number of women appointed to public boards. 45% of new appointees between April and September 2013 were women.

Conifers

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to double the amount of new productive conifer planting necessary to meet the target of 12 per cent woodland cover by 2060.

Dan Rogerson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 March 2014, Official Report, column 75W, to the hon. Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Sandra Osborne).

Conifers

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to replace productive conifer forest cover lost as a result of the (a) Open Habitats Policy and (b) Ancient Woodlands Policy.

Dan Rogerson: Open habitats policy has a mechanism within it to ensure there is a balance between woodland creation and woodland loss based on the composition and productivity of the woodland that is being removed.
	The Forestry Commission monitors the area of woodland restored to open habitats and uses the data along with the quality of biodiversity benefit to determine whether compensatory planting should be required when granting a felling licence.
	Keepers of Time, the Ancient Woodland Policy, promotes the restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodlands to site native species for biodiversity benefits. There is no reason why these woods should not still be managed productively, albeit with a different timber crop.

Apprentices

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many workplaces employ apprentices in each (a) region and (b) parliamentary constituency.

Matthew Hancock: I am placing the information sought by my hon. Friend in the Libraries of the House. Table 1 shows the number of workplaces that employ Apprentices by Region and Table 2 shows the number of workplaces that employ apprentices by parliamentary constituency.
	The tables will also be published online through the FE Data Library:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-other-statistics-and-research

Employee Ownership

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 8W, on employee ownership, 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of how many people will apply to be an employee shareholder under the Shares for Rights Scheme;
	(2)  how many companies have applied to participate in the Shares for Rights Scheme to date.

Jennifer Willott: The employee shareholder status is a new employment status that is optional for companies and offer and for individuals to take up. There is no requirement for individuals to apply to Government to become an employee shareholder or for companies to register or apply to Government to use it.
	The Government has therefore made no assessment of levels of current or future take-up.

Employee Ownership

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 8W, on employee ownership, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the qualifications and independence of the independent advisers provided by companies to advise employees on their employee shareholder employment status.

Jennifer Willott: In order for an individual to become an employee shareholder, the individual must obtain advice from a relevant independent adviser on the terms and effect of the proposed agreement. An employee shareholder employment contract is of no effect if an individual does not get independent advice before the agreement is made. It is in the interest of the individual to understand the employee shareholder contract and its implications before they accept a job.
	Advice must be given by a qualified lawyer, certified trade union member, certified worker at an advice centre or a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives who is employed in a solicitor’s practice. The law does not permit advice from a person employed by the employer to count towards fulfilling the legal advice requirement.
	The law is already clear in this area. Government has drawn on the same legal mechanism detailing the provision of advice which is set out in the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Exports: Government Assistance

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to ensure that exporters of intangible goods can access the resources of UK Export Finance.

Michael Fallon: UK Export Finance can provide support for intangibles, such as software licenses, where they are provided in connection with goods or services. As far as the supply of intangibles by themselves are concerned, UK Export Finance has initiated a public consultation on proposals to widen its powers under its enabling legislation, the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991 (as amended). These proposals include giving UK Export Finance the ability to support exports of intangible goods such as intellectual property rights by themselves. If, having regard to the responses to that consultation, it is deemed to implement these proposals, they will form part of a Bill that will be introduced in the next Session of Parliament.

Royal Mail

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the stabilisation period in respect of the privatisation of Royal Mail, as detailed in the engagement letter between his Department and the underwriting banks, ends; and how that period has been defined.

Michael Fallon: The stabilisation period, also known as a “greenshoe” or “over-allotment” option, is a market-standard provision that allows the Initial Public Offering's (IPO) stabilisation manager to provide share price stabilisation (if required) for up to 30 days post-commencement of conditional dealings. In the case of the Royal Mail, the stabilisation manager was UBS and the stabilisation period ended on 8 November.
	In the engagement letter, the payment of the discretionary fee was linked to the ending of the stabilisation period. However, we informed the banks involved that a decision would not be taken in the timeframe set out in the engagement letter given the volatility of the Royal Mail share price after the IPO.
	We have not set a rigid timetable for the decision on the payment of the discretionary fee which remains unpaid.

Children: Day Care

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  which local authorities currently do not have enough childcare places available to cater for the extension of the childcare offer to the 40 per cent most disadvantaged two-year-olds in September 2014; and what the shortfall of places is in each such authority;
	(2)  which local authorities currently do not have enough childcare places available to cater for the 20 per cent most disadvantaged two-year-olds; and what the shortfall is in each such authority.

Elizabeth Truss: In February 2014 local authorities reported that around 103,000 two-year-olds were already accessing a funded early learning place. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that every eligible child, whose parents wish them to take a place, is able to.

Domestic Violence

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the performance of Local Safeguarding Children boards in assessing (a) health authorities and (b) the police and local authority performance in domestic abuse cases.

Edward Timpson: Ofsted carry out inspections of local authorities under section 136 (2) of the Education and Inspections Act, 2006 (EIA). Since November 2013, these inspections include a review of the effectiveness of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).
	This review of the LSCB looks at how well the LSCB evaluates and monitors the quality and effectiveness of the local authority and other statutory partners, including health partners and the police. The functions of the LSCB include developing policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in their area. This includes participating in the planning of services to protect children from all forms of abuse.
	Ofsted has to date published 12 inspection reports under their new framework.

Pensions: Teachers

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the Government Actuary's Department provided Ministers with estimates of additional monies received from extra contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme before 19 March; and if so, if he will publish such estimates.

David Laws: The Government Actuary’s Department has provided no such estimate to the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove).

Pensions: Teachers

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Government Actuary's Department will publish details of the valuation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

David Laws: The Government Actuary provides advice to the Secretary of State for Education on the valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and his Department is currently finalising its work. The Secretary of State plans to publish the outcome of the valuation, including the Actuary’s full report, in June 2014.

Schools: West Midlands

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to remove any contractual gagging orders or similar measures applicable to staff in the West Midlands involved in the ongoing investigation into school governance in that area led by Ian Kershaw.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education hopes that any individual with relevant information about the serious allegations made in relation to a number of schools in Birmingham will come forward and share this with the Education Commissioner, Peter Clarke, and Ian Kershaw, the chief adviser for Birmingham City council’s investigation.
	Amendments to The Employment Relations Act 1996, introduced by the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) 1998, mean that any confidentiality clauses in settlement agreements cannot have the effect of preventing a protected disclosure and any provision will be void to the extent it seeks to do so. The Department revised the model settlement agreements for new academies in January to make this absolutely clear. The PIDA Act 1998 also introduced provisions to protect workers from detrimental treatment or victimisation from their employer if, in the public interest, they blow the whistle on wrongdoing.

Secondary Education: Standards

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will add economics, English literature and computing to the list of facilitating subjects for Key Stage 5 performance tables;
	(2)  when he plans to review the list of facilitating subjects for Key Stage 5 performance tables.

Elizabeth Truss: The facilitating subjects are identified by the Russell Group of universities as A level subjects that are required more often than others by universities. The list includes English literature along with mathematics, further mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and languages (classical and modern).
	The Russell Group is an independent organisation; it recently reviewed the list of facilitating subjects and confirmed no change was needed. The Department for Education publishes a measure in the key stage 5 performance tables of the percentage of students achieving AAB grades at A level, including in at least two facilitating subjects.

Air Traffic Control: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation he undertook on the content of his Department's publication, Guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority on Environmental Objectives Relating to the Exercise of its Air Navigation Functions, published in January 2014, with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.

Robert Goodwill: During the public consultation period a meeting was held between officials from the Department of Transport and the Department for Regional Development Northern Ireland where the content of the guidance was discussed. There was no specific consultation with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.

Birmingham New Street Station

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had on the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station.

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), visited the Birmingham Gateway project on 22 April 2014 to view progress. In addition, regular meetings take place between officials, Birmingham City Council, Network Rail and other stakeholders on the project.

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in his Department have been employed on zero-hour contracts in each of the last two years up to the most recent period for which records are available.

Stephen Hammond: The number of direct employees of the Department and its six executive agencies who are on zero hours contracts is nine. All are qualified engineers.
	There are no direct employees on zero-hour contracts in the Department’s arm’s length bodies.

Fuel Cells: Hydrogen

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to support the hydrogen fuelling market; and when he expects to have completed them;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect a hydrogen transport system would have on air quality in (a) London and (b) the UK;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to enable hydrogen fuel to compete equally as a viable part of the transport mix.

Robert Goodwill: As set out in Driving the Future Today our strategy document published last year, the Government is committed to the move to ultra-low emission vehicles. We recognise the economic opportunities for the UK that this transition provides as well its potential contribution to cutting the emissions from road transport.
	The Government’s approach to this agenda has been consistently technology neutral and we have been active participants in UKH2Mobility. This is a joint industry-Government project evaluating the potential for hydrogen as a transport fuel and the scope to make the UK an early market for the commercial deployment of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) from 2015 onwards. The UKH2Mobility project is ongoing and both Government and industry participants are working together to consider the steps needed to secure the benefits of moving to hydrogen as a transport fuel for the UK. This includes the clear contribution that studies have shown FCEVs can make to improving air quality in the UK. We have undertaken no specific research on the impact of FCEVs on air quality in London.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many High Speed 2 consultation requests are EIA development as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011; and how many recommendations for refusal of the grant of planning permission are (a) EIA and (b) non-EIA development. [R]

Robert Goodwill: Safeguarding directions for the London to West Midlands section of HS2 were made in July 2013 and updated in October 2013. The number of High Speed 2 consultation requests which are EIA development as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 is five.
	The number of recommendations for refusal of the grant of planning permission are as follows:
	(a) EIA—3
	(b) Non-EIA development—3.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultation requests from local planning authorities under the safeguarding directions for Phase One have been received by HS2 Ltd since 9 July 2013; and from which local planning authorities such consultation requests have been received. [R]

Robert Goodwill: Since 9 July 2013, HS2 Ltd received 60 consultation requests from local planning authorities under the safeguarding directions for the London to West Midlands section of HS2. The requests were received from the following local planning authorities:
	Birmingham city council
	Hertfordshire county council
	London borough of Brent
	London borough of Ealing
	London borough of Hillingdon
	Lichfield district council
	London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
	North Warwickshire borough council
	Oxfordshire county council
	Stratford-upon-Avon district council
	Solihull Metropolitan borough council
	South Northamptonshire council
	Warwickshire county council
	Westminster city council
	Aylesbury Vale district council
	London borough of Camden.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) EIA and (b) non-EIA development recommendations HS2 Ltd has made for conditions to be imposed on planning permission to protect the High Speed 2 project. [R]

Robert Goodwill: Following the making of safeguarding directions for the London to West Midlands section of HS2 in July 2013 (updated October 2013), the number of recommendations made by HS2 Ltd for conditions to be imposed on planning permission to protect the High Speed 2 project is as follows:
	(a) EIA recommendations—0
	(b) Non-EIA recommendations—7.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he estimates will have to be spent protecting the High Speed 2 track on phase 1 and phase 2 against the effects of mining subsidence; and whether that sum is included in the overall projected cost. [R]

Robert Goodwill: On Phase One there are no specific allowances relating to mining subsidence in the cost estimate as there is no active mining below the route, nor any recorded abandoned mining shown in the publically available records that have been researched. Physical ground investigations and desktop studies of existing records will be undertaken prior to construction of the railway, and allowances have been made in both the cost estimate and the project contingency for any ground treatments that are identified.
	On Phase Two there is an allowance within the cost estimate for the risks around crossing open cast quarries, mines and landfill sites and the current level of design reflects where appropriate the difficulty of crossing these type of areas.

High Speed Two Growth Taskforce

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure there is a Liverpool City Region representative on the HS2 Growth Taskforce chaired by Lord Deighton.

Robert Goodwill: The HS2 Growth Taskforce launched its final report in March 2014, delivering 19 recommendations to government to help get our cities, transport network, people and businesses ready to maximise the growth potential from HS2.
	While the taskforce membership was drawn from across the country and represented many different fields of expertise, it was not possible to include representatives from every area that will benefit from HS2.
	Recognising the importance of engaging closely with Liverpool in producing their recommendations, the taskforce went to the city in January 2014 to hear the views of local partners and businesses from across the city region.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will include small and medium-sized enterprises in the procurement process for its contract to manage direct debit payments for vehicle tax discs.

Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will deliver direct debits for vehicle excise duty in two phases. Initially, the DVLA will partly use its existing contract for IT service provision with elements being subcontracted via an open competition which will include small/medium enterprise interest.
	The full strategic solution will be pursued in an open competition which will start in 2015. This open competition will also invite interest from Government frameworks which support small/medium enterprise involvement.

Parking: Hospitals

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to undertake a review of (a) the methods of any car park management company responsible for hospital car parks where there has been a significant increase in the number of car parking charge notices issued and the number of appeals since that company was awarded the contract and (b) in each such case, the reasons for those increases.

Robert Goodwill: Parking in hospital car parks is the overall responsibility of the relevant national health service (NHS) trust or landowner as is the case for all other private car parks. As such it is entirely a matter for the trust or landowner to determine the levels of any parking charges. I have no plans to review or intervene in this matter as the Government promotes a system of industry self-regulation in the private parking sector.

Trade Unions

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has any plans to end the employee trade union membership dues check-off system.

Stephen Hammond: The Department has undertaken a review into the removal of check off arrangements and is considering the next steps following this review.

West Coast Railway Line

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of changes in passenger numbers on the West Coast Main Line over the next 10 years.

Stephen Hammond: I refer my right hon. Friend to my answer of 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 517-18W.

Green Deal Scheme: Sussex

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will write to Sussex county councils setting out detailed reasons why the bid to the Green Deal Communities Fund from Sussex Energy Saving Partnership was turned down and how the organisations involved could have strengthened their bid; whether there is a process for unsuccessful bids to be reviewed; if he will publish (a) copies of all bids received and (b) the reasons for each decision on such bids; whether there are funds remaining in the fund; whether there will be further opportunities for projects to bid; and when further bids will be entertained.

Gregory Barker: All Green Deal Communities bids were assessed against the criteria set out in the published application pack using a consistent process, treating each bid equally. The following table lists the lead LAs for the 24 successful bids. These utilised all the available Green Deal Communities’ funds.
	
		
			 Successful lead local authorities and amounts awarded 
			 Authorities to which grant is to be paid Total funding (£) 
			 East Hampshire 2,944,668 
			 Dartford 4,026,855 
			 Leeds 4,943,200 
		
	
	
		
			 Bristol 7,292,200 
			 Nottingham 5,473,300 
			 Hillingdon 2,975,900 
			 Telford 4,859,900 
			 Worcestershire 3,630,100 
			 Lewisham 1,656,222 
			 Broadland 1,444,300 
			 Woking 2,550,491 
			 Plymouth 3,068,800 
			 South Bucks 2,574,991 
			 Oldham (Greater Manchester) 6,119,700 
			 Ashfield 1,097,098 
			 Suffolk 5,712,600 
			 Cambridgeshire 7,857,400 
			 Peterborough 3,945,100 
			 Haringey 6,560,012 
			 Bracknell Forest 1,820,714 
			 Eastleigh 3,336,900 
			 Nuneaton 2,084,502 
			 Harrow 1,457,100 
			 Bath 929,300 
			 Total 88,361,353

Radioactive Waste: Cumbria

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that for future generations the Cumbrian coast is not contaminated by radioactive waste; what plans he has to ensure the resilience of nuclear waste sites to rising sea levels and flood risk; what steps he plans to take in response to the Environment Agency document of 9 January on the site of the Drigg Low-Level Waste Repository; and if he will place a copy of the document in the Library.

Michael Fallon: Radioactive waste management activities are subject to permitting by the Environment Agency under legislation introduced by the Department.
	The agency requires radioactive waste management sites to prepare and maintain an Environmental Safety Case (ESC). Its purpose is to demonstrate that any impacts now and into the far future resulting from disposals of radioactive waste at the site are acceptable in accordance with relevant UK legislation, standards and guidance. This assessment must consider all reasonable futures for the site, including coastal erosion and flooding scenarios. The Environment Agency will only permit further disposals at the site if it is satisfied that the operator has demonstrated that the short and long term impacts of disposals are in accordance with this legislation, standards and guidance.
	The January document referred to is “Advice to Environment Agency Assessors on the Disposal of Discrete Items, Specific to the Low Level Waste Repository, Near Drigg, Cumbria” was prepared to support the Environment Agency in assessing the ESC for the LLWR, submitted by LLW Repository Ltd in May 2011. The agency conducts such assessments independently and therefore I do not plan to respond to this document.

Alexander Litvinenko

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the High Court decision of 11 February 2014, she will now set up a public inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko.

Norman Baker: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has decided not to seek permission to appeal the judgment and is giving fresh consideration to the exercise of her discretion to establish an inquiry. The Government continues to co-operate fully with the inquest into Mr Litvinenko’s death.

Emergency Services: Telecommunications

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for the Emergency Services Mobile Communication programme; and what steps she is taking to ensure that commercial operators offer a service at least equivalent to the existing service.

Karen Bradley: The current Airwave Solutions Ltd contracts were let under a 20 year Private Finance Initiative arrangement, with a series of 15 year contracts, which expire over the period from September 2016 to December 2020.
	The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme aims to introduce a replacement for Airwave, as current contracts expire from September 2016. The requirements have been developed in partnership with the emergency services and we are running an open and fair competition in accordance with government guidelines.
	The aim is to provide a replacement solution which is at least equivalent to the existing service, but not necessarily delivered in the same way.

Human Trafficking: Children

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria were used to select organisations or local authorities to pilot the advocacy scheme for trafficked children; how that scheme was commissioned; when such schemes will start in which location and for what duration; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: The Modern Slavery Bill will enable us to strengthen our response to human trafficking and modern slavery for both adults and children. We announced in January our intention to trial specialist independent advocates for victims of child trafficking.
	23 local authorities have agreed to participate in the trial: Greater Manchester including Manchester City, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Salford, Trafford; West Midlands including, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton; Croydon; Derbyshire; Kent; Lancashire; Oxfordshire; and West Sussex.
	These local authorities represent a wide demographic range as well as major transport hubs and asylum screening units. These areas also have the highest rates of trafficking referrals to the National Referral Mechanism or are areas where we are aware of a high number of trafficking investigations by law enforcement agencies.
	We remain committed to trialling this approach. We are currently considering bids from a number of voluntary and community services organisations that were identified as potential providers of the advocacy service because of the particular expertise they hold. We will announce the outcome of the process in due course.

Afghanistan

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements his Department plans to leave in place in Afghanistan to protect education for female children.

Justine Greening: The UK Government supports girls' education in Afghanistan through DFID's Girls' Education Challenge programmes and our financial support to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund—a multi-donor fund that supports the provision of primary education across Afghanistan. We are committed to Afghanistan for the long term, including supporting education for girls.

Banks: Pay

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the prevalence of allowances being paid to senior bank executives to enable them to avoid the EU bonus cap.

Andrea Leadsom: The UK is at the forefront of global efforts to tackle excessive pay in the financial sector and ensure that pay is aligned with performance; our tough Remuneration Code requires deferral of at least 60% of bonuses of senior bankers and limits the amounts that can be paid in cash. Bonuses are down significantly since their peak under the last Government, and are now largely deferred and paid in shares.
	In contrast, the EU’s bonus cap is a poorly thought through measure that undermines rather than reinforces our efforts by pushing up fixed pay. It was introduced without any proper impact assessment and has serious issues around its compatibility with the EU treaty, and for these reasons we are challenging it in the European Court of Justice. However, pending the outcome, the Government is fully implementing the cap in the UK.
	The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority have responsibility for ensuring that remuneration practices in the banking sector are compliant with the new rules.

Debt Collection

Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost is of recovery of £1 of debt by HM Revenue and Customs debt management staff.

David Gauke: HMRC collects about £475 billion of tax revenue every year. 90% of this is collected by the due date; just 10% of it becomes overdue and a debt that HMRC has to recover/enforce.
	It would be misleading to attribute the effect of enforcing tax that is not paid on time outside the context of collecting tax that is collected on time.
	Accordingly, we do not routinely measure the ‘average’ cost of collecting £1 of debt.
	HMRC uses a number of different methods to recover outstanding debts ranging from automated processes to more targeted enforcement tools as well as partnering initiatives with private sector companies. The application of specific interventions depends on a number of factors including customer behaviour, the economic climate, and our overall approach to maintaining the health of the tax system and tackling non-compliance.
	In 2011 HMRC published the results of an international benchmarking study which compares HMRC's operational performance to nine other international tax administrations. Results from this study showed HMRC had the lowest cost of all ten countries.
	Over the long-term 99% of taxes due are collected with only 1% being lost to the Exchequer, almost all of which is due to insolvency.

Financial Services

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the level and practice of undeclared costings charged by financial institutions to private investors on open-ended investment trusts and other products.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government is aware of the impact that costs can have on investment returns. While there are currently no plans for HM Treasury to undertake a review the Government is working with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates the disclosure of fees and expenses in accordance with existing regulation.
	The FCA has conducted a review on the clarity of fund charges within the current regulatory framework to ensure costs are clearly set out to consumers. It will publish its findings in quarter 2 2014. The FCA has also worked closely with the Treasury to shape future European legislation which will improve the disclosure of fund charges across Europe.

Fines: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fines of what total value have been imposed by HM Revenue and Customs on employers in Northern Ireland in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2014 to date.

David Gauke: This question has been taken as asking about fines related to non-payment of the NMW.
	The Government takes the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC enforce the national minimum wage legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition to carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.
	Prior to 6 April 2009, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued penalty notices to those employers who failed to comply, within 28 days, with an enforcement notice. A new enforcement regime, introduced in April 2009, saw the introduction of automatic penalties for employers who are found to have underpaid their workers.
	The number and value of penalties issued to Northern Ireland employers for the calendar years 2010-14 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  2010 2011 2012 2013 
			 Number 63 43 30 20 
			 Value (£) 33,635 49,135 41,110 40,724

Loans: Republic of Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the government of the Irish Republic currently owes the UK; and when he expects the amount outstanding to be repaid in full.

Nicky Morgan: In accordance with the Loans to Ireland Act 2010, HM Treasury reports to Parliament every six months including information on the outstanding principal. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the report laid on 28 April 2014 which is also available online, alongside all previous reports submitted by HM Treasury, on the following site:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bilateral-loan-to-ireland

Mortgages

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to resolve unresolved cases of the mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of unresolved cases of mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has not made an estimate of the number of unresolved cases of mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.
	If a borrower feels the risks were not explained properly to them when they took out an endowment mortgage, in the first instance they should complain to the company through which they bought the product. Customers who then feel that their complaint has not been dealt with satisfactorily are able to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)—an independent body set up to provide arbitration in such cases, which is free for consumers to use.

National Insurance Contributions

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters were sent to businesses on the employment allowance; how many such letters have been returned undelivered; and what the total cost has been of production and postage of such letters.

David Gauke: For the total number and costs of letters sent, I refer to the answer I gave on 10 April 2014, Official Report, column 365W, to the hon. Members for Streatham (Mr Umunna), Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry) and the right hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr Straw).
	Letters returned undelivered are handled externally as part of a contracted service.

Students: Loans

Liam Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's target impairment for student loans is; how that level was decided on; when that target was introduced; what changes there have been to that target since its introduction; and if he will publish regular information on the level of that target.

David Willetts: I am replying on behalf of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 11W.

Homelessness: Females

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to prevent and tackle women's homelessness.

Kris Hopkins: This Government has invested £470 million to prevent and tackle all forms of homelessness over the spending review period. The homelessness legislation in England provides one of the strongest safety nets in the world for families with children and vulnerable people who become homeless through no fault of their own.
	The Government is committed to tackling and preventing all forms of homelessness and rough sleeping. We have:
	Invested nearly £2 million to stop unlawful practice of councils placing families in B&Bs for more than six weeks;
	Supported the roll out of ‘No Second Night Out’ schemes across England, helping 67% of rough sleepers off the streets after a single night;
	Invested £42.5 million to improve rough sleeper hostels;
	Made it easier for councils to help move homeless families out of temporary accommodation more quickly by using good-quality privately rented accommodation—backed up by a £1 billion investment to expand the rented sector; and
	Supported local authorities to deliver high quality housing solutions for vulnerable people through the Gold Standard scheme. Councils aiming for the Standard are supported by £1.7 million worth of training and other support.
	The dynamics of domestic abuse mean that accommodation can play an important role in the resolution of interpersonal abuse and conflict. This is why local authorities provide a range of support for victims of domestic abuse. Some victims will be accommodated in refuges, but Sanctuary Schemes and mainstream local authority accommodation may be an option for others, while some victims will pursue independent solutions with help and advice from support schemes as necessary.
	This Department also funds UKRefugesOnline a UK wide database of domestic violence services which supports the national 24 hour free phone domestic violence helpline. It enables those working with victims of domestic violence to identify appropriate services and potential refuge vacancies around the country so that victims can get the help they need as quickly as possible.

Housing: Older People

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to help older people with their housing needs; and if he will make a statement.

Kris Hopkins: The Government is committed to increasing the supply of suitable housing for older people and also to helping people to live independently at home for longer.
	The Government is improving choice for those who wish to move by providing £315 million between 2013-14 and 2017-18 through the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund. Phase I of the fund was announced last year and will deliver more than 3,500 affordable homes for older people and adults with disabilities or mental health needs. The successful bids for Phase II of the programme, which aims to stimulate development in the wider private market, will be announced later this year.
	The National Planning Policy Framework asks local planning authorities to assess the full housing requirements in their area and plan for a mix of housing based on demographic trends and the needs of different groups in the area, including older people. The planning guidance advises that local planning authorities should count housing provided for older people, including residential institutions in Use Class C2, against their housing requirement. The approach taken, which may include site allocations, should be clearly set out in the Local Plan. Copies of the Framework and the guidance have been placed in the Library of the House.
	To help extended families, the Government introduced in April a 50% council tax discount on family annexes. We have also made amendments to the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations, exempting from the levy those wanting to extend their own homes, or install residential annexes within their own property boundary.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government is providing funding of £785 million between 2011-12 and 2014-15 for the Disabled Facilities Grant which is administered by local authorities in England and provides adaptations to the homes of disabled people to help them to live as independently as possible in their own home. A further £220 million will be made available in 2015-16.
	Since 2011-12, the Government has funded FirstStop with over £2 million to provide a national information and advice service to older people, their families and carers on housing, care and finance.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that the wishes of the local people and decisions of the local council are given priority in appeal decisions by the Planning Inspectorate.

Nicholas Boles: Planning is a quasi-judicial process; it is a long-standing feature of the planning system that there is a right of appeal, just as there are with other local quasi-judicial decisions such as on licensing applications, gambling applications or parking fines.
	The Localism Act 2011 has strengthened the role of Local Plans and abolished the last Administration’s top-down Regional Strategies. Our streamlined National Planning Policy Framework strongly encourages areas to get up-to-date Local Plans in place, and we have been actively supporting councils in doing so. Local Plans now set the framework in which decisions on particular applications are taken, whether locally or at appeal, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
	Once adopted a neighbourhood plan will also become part of the area’s statutory development plan—an example of this Government’s localist agenda. Both local and neighbourhood plans are founded on thorough community involvement and are subject to public examination and consultation. Almost 1,000 communities have applied for a neighbourhood planning area to be designated, with 850 areas now designated.
	Planning inspectors will take full account of all the evidence that is before them, including representations made by local residents and other interested parties. Each representation should be considered on their merits, paying careful regard to the relevant policy and material planning considerations.
	Since the National Planning Policy Framework was introduced, the number of appeals received has fallen as has the number allowed. The quality of local decisions also remains high—99% of decisions are made locally with only approximately 1% of planning applications overturned on appeal. Housing starts and housing construction are also up, as are permissions for new homes. This means there is more local decision-making, and our reforms are supporting badly-needed new homes within a locally-led planning system.

Racial Discrimination

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much financial support his Department provided to Show Racism the Red Card in each of the last three years; and what controls are in place to prevent the use of such monies for party political campaigning.

Stephen Williams: The Department for Communities and Local Government provided the following funding to Show Racism the Red Card:
	
		
			 Calendar year £ 
			 2012 52,460 
			 2013 105,077 
			 2014 47,427 
			 Total 204,964 
		
	
	We are satisfied that the funding for Show Racism the Red Card was used for purposes outlined in the funding agreement—the provision of education workshops to equip young people with skills to reject the divisive messages of groups like the English Defence League—and that no funding was used for purposes of a political nature. Conditions in the funding agreement prevent funds being spent on anything other than educational work (including a prohibition on any political campaigning) and their status as a charity further preludes them from engaging in political activities.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to answer question No. 191956 tabled by the right hon. Member for Leeds Central on 13 March 2014.

Stephen Williams: I will provide a comprehensive answer to the right hon. Member in due course. We are currently gathering historic files, given some of the information requested predates the establishment of the National Planning Casework Unit in 2011.

Public Sector: Procurement

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will take steps to require companies running public services to become more transparent about their performance and financial data and be subject to Freedom of Information legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: The Public Accounts Committee report “Contracting out public services to the private sector”, published on 14 March 2014, covered both of these issues.
	The Government is currently preparing its response, which will be published in due course.
	The report can be found at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmpubacc/777/77702.htm

Public Sector: Procurement

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make it his policy to ensure that public sector, in-house, social enterprise and not-for-profit provision are given full consideration before public services are contracted out to the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: The Government believes that public service commissioners should consider all options when tendering contracts, securing best quality service for users at the best value for taxpayers. This includes social enterprises, not-for-profit organisations and public sector mutuals.
	We have provided support through the £10 million Mutuals Support Programme, another £10 million through the Investment and Contract Readiness Fund, and also established a programme of ‘commercial masterclasses’ on the skills needed to win public sector contracts.

Public Sector: Staff

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the change in the percentage of working age population employed by the public sector was in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland between 2012 and 2013.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated April 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the change in the percentage of working age population employed by the public sector was in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland between 2012 and 2013. (196862)
	The estimates supplied have been calculated from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. In the APS the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents’ views about the organisation for which they work. The public sector estimates provided do not correspond to official Public Sector Employment estimates. Those are derived directly from employers, based on a National Accounts’ definition and would include those working beyond pension age.
	Table 1 shows the number and percentage of people aged 16 to 64 years, who were employed in the public sector resident in each country of the UK, compiled from APS interviews held during the period January 2013 to December 2013, the latest period available, and the 12 month period ending December 2012, along with the net changes.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Number and percentage of people aged 16 to 64 years employed in the public sector1, resident in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland 
			 Thousand 
			  January to December 2012 Percentage of population (%) January to December 20132 Percentage of population (%) Net change (%) 
			 England 5,471 16.2 *5,487 16.2 0.0 
			 Wales 381 20.4 *386 20.1 -0.3 
			 Scotland 645 19.0 *644 19.0 0.0 
			 Northern Ireland 219 18.7 *217 18.9 0.2 
			 1 Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. 2 Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Source: Annual Population Survey 
		
	
	
		
			 Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%)  
			 * 0 ≤ CV <5% Estimates are considered precise 
			 ** 5 ≤ CV <10% Estimates are considered reasonably precise 
			 *** 10 ≤ CV <20% Estimates are considered acceptable 
			 **** CV ≥ 20% Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes

Trade Unions

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reasons his Department requested that government departments review the check-off system for union subscriptions.

Francis Maude: The deduction of trade union subscriptions from payroll through check-off is a matter delegated to Departments.
	Departments should keep these arrangements under review to ensure that they are appropriate and meet the needs of a modern workplace, as per section 7.3.3 of the civil service management code.

Rural Broadband

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that superfast broadband is available in remote areas of the UK.

Edward Vaizey: A new £10 million competitive fund opened on 21 March to market test innovative solutions to deliver superfast broadband services to the most difficult to reach remaining areas of the UK.
	The pilot projects will explore how to reach these areas; and we’ll use learning from the pilots to inform future government investment decisions.

BBC Finance

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the value of regional and local BBC services in discussions on the future financing of the BBC.

Edward Vaizey: The value of all BBC services, including its local and regional services, should be considered as part of the review of the BBC’s Charter. Government has yet to announce the timing, scope and process for Charter Review, so it would be premature to make any assessment at this point.

Betting Shops

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effects of betting shops located in areas with high levels of deprivation on those areas.

Helen Grant: The Health Surveys for England and Scotland show that the relationship between gambling related harm and deprivation is mixed. The proposals I announced yesterday will ensure that betting shop customers are subject to greater protections wherever they are based—whether that be areas of deprivation or otherwise.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to improve mobile internet connectivity in rural areas.

Edward Vaizey: One of the licences granted in the 2013 4G auction contains a demanding indoor coverage obligation. The owner of this licence, Telefonica O2 UK, is obliged to provide indoor coverage for 4G mobile services to at least 98% of the UK population (and to at least 95% of the population of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales respectively) by the end of 2017. Ofcom expects that this level of indoor coverage will result in approximately 99% outdoor coverage. As a result of the competitive UK telecoms market, all four of the UK mobile network operators have publicly committed to provide this level of coverage by the end of 2015.
	There is also likely to be further improvement in 2G and 3G coverage as a result of increasing roll out of combined 2G/3G/4G equipment by the industry.
	However, sometimes it is not commercially viable for operators to install and operate base stations and associated infrastructure in areas of very low population. On 3 October 2011, the Government announced the Mobile Infrastructure Project (MIP) with up to £150 million funding to extend mobile phone coverage to remote and rural area across the country that currently receive no coverage from any network. The scheme sees Government provide the capital funding for Arqiva as contractors to build the new infrastructure. The four mobile network operators (EE, Telefonica, Three and Vodafone) will provide coverage from the sites and cover operating costs for the twenty year life of the project. The project is currently under way and is expected to deliver by 2015. It is focused primarily on improving voice coverage but is also likely to improve data coverage. Details of this work can be found on the GOV.UK website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/making-it-easier-for-the-communications-and-telecoms-industries-to-grow-while-protecting-the-interests-of-citizens/supporting-pages/improving-mobile-coverage
	Ofcom has also published a plan to improve mobile coverage:
	http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2013/11/five-point-plan-to-improving-mobile-coverage/

Broadband: Rural Areas

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what evaluation his Department has undertaken of the roll out of superfast broadband in rural communities in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland.

Edward Vaizey: The results of an impact study on the Government’s broadband programmes published in November 2013 showed that the programmes would achieve a return by 2024 of £20 for every £1 invested. The study did not disaggregate these results across the UK but 89% of the programme benefits were expected to accrue to areas outside London and the South East of England. Funding of £100.8 million of the Government’s initial £530 million superfast broadband programme has been allocated to Scotland and the Government announced an indicative funding allocation of a further £20.99 million for Scotland from the additional £250 million programme in February 2014.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to improve broadband coverage in rural areas.

Edward Vaizey: Phase one of the superfast roll-out programme is making good progress with all 44 projects in delivery.
	Two thirds of projects (29 out of 44) have live superfast cabinets making superfast broadband available to thousands of homes and businesses across the country.
	We are now investing the additional £250 million to take coverage of superfast broadband to 95% of UK premises.

Libraries: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many libraries in Greater London have (a) closed and (b) reduced opening hours since May 2010.

Edward Vaizey: The detail requested is not held centrally by this Department, however the Annual Report to Parliament published in January this year indicated our estimate of static library closures in England since the beginning of 2010, is around 90. While the number of public libraries has reduced there has been a notable growth in the number of libraries managed or run by the community. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) collect, annually, from the individual library authorities, public library statistics which contain information relating to the net figure of public libraries open in each year, as well as the number and type of libraries and the average hours of opening per week. This shows the number of library service points open 10+ hours per week in England (incl. mobiles) at 31 March 2013 was 3,181. However, CIPFA do not collect data on the number of library closures or those that have reduced their opening hours. Copies of CIPFA statistics are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Tourism: North West

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps are being taken to raise the profile of the North West as a tourist destination.

Helen Grant: The North West is promoted by both VisitEngland and VisitBritain, benefitting from the Holidays at Home are GREAT campaign and the international GREAT campaign. VisitEngland is running a number of thematic campaigns, in particular around Blackpool and Manchester, which can be found at:
	http://www.visitengland.com/
	VisitEngland also regularly promotes the countryside of Cumbria and Lancashire, featuring them in much of their imagery. The North West is featured in VisitBritain’s current marketing campaigns including focusing on Manchester as a gateway to the Lake District, Liverpool as the home of the Beatles and the promotion of cities which have Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Manchester.
	The International Festival for Business, taking place in Liverpool this summer over a six week period, is a global event which will further strengthen Liverpool’s position as a major tourist destination. VisitBritain is promoting the festival through all its platforms, while VisitEngland is hosting and participating in a series of events throughout the six week period.

Funerals

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to support people with the rising cost of funerals.

Steve Webb: The Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme continues to provide help towards a simple, respectful, low-cost funeral. In 2012-13, over 35,000 awards were made worth £42.7 million, with an average award of £1,225.
	Social Fund Budgeting Loans are also available to those on income related benefits to cover costs relating to funeral expenses.
	In addition, any arrears of benefit which were due to the deceased at date of death are disregarded. This means that such arrears are no longer deducted from the funeral payment award.

Personal Independence Payment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has invoked penalty clauses for unacceptable performance standards of (a) Capita or (b) other private sector companies administering personal independence payments.

Michael Penning: The Department has applied performance measures against both of the personal independence payment assessment providers and has recovered Service Credits (Financial remedies) in accordance with their contracts.
	Specific application of service credits for Capita and Atos Healthcare is commercially sensitive information.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many short-term benefit advances were made between April 2013 and March 2014.

Esther McVey: The total number of short term benefit advances made between April 2013 and March 2014 was 78,021.

Social Security Benefits

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the average change in the number of days people will spend claiming benefits as a result of the help-to-work scheme.

Esther McVey: We have a strong evidence base which shows that Help to Work has a positive impact in terms of reducing the number of days claimants spend on benefit.
	Over almost two years, claimants who took part in a trailblazer for Community Work Placement (CWP) and Mandatory Intervention Regime (MIR) spent on average 21 (CWP) and 26 (MIR) fewer days on benefits than an equivalent group of JSA claimants.
	They also spent more time in work than the control group: nine days for CWP and 11 days for MIR participants.

Unemployed People: Basic Skills

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many jobseeker's allowance claimants were supported by Jobcentre Plus to obtain basic English, mathematics or IT skills in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants who did not have basic English, mathematics or IT skills in each of the last five years.

Esther McVey: The Department does not publish information on the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance who lack basic skills in English, Mathematics and IT.
	Where a claimant's lack of skills is a barrier to them finding work, Work Coaches will make a referral either for an in-depth skills assessment with a training provider or direct to the most appropriate training.
	Table 1 as follows shows the highest level of learning undertaken by JSA benefit claimants in the first half of the 2012-13 academic year (August 2012 to January 2013) for claimants studying at Level 2 or below.
	Figures are estimated based on learning data held by BIS taken from the Individualised Learner Records (ILR) dataset matched to benefits administrative data held by the DWP. Claimants studying English and Maths have been grouped together, while claimants studying ICT are part of the ‘Other’ category.
	DWP does not currently have equivalent data for the academic years prior to 2012-13. However a back series of statistics on claimants who studied Maths, English and ESOL aims, from 2009-10 to 2011-12, will be published in the 2012-13 final Further Education for Benefit Claimants official statistics in summer 2014.
	
		
			 Table 1: Highest level of learning by benefit type, 2012-13 year to date (benefit claimants), Level 2 or below 
			  Jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance (WRAG) 
			 Level Number of claimants Percentage of total claimants 
			 Entry-Other 28,000 22.1 
			 Entry-English and Maths 10,500  
			 Entry-ESOL 14,600  
			    
			 Level 1-Other 75,800 34.7 
			 Level 1-English and Maths 6,400  
			 Level 1-ESOL 1,300  
			    
			 Level 2-Other 13,300 26.0 
			 Level 2-English and Maths 3,700  
			 Level 2-ESOL 300  
			 FL2 45,300  
			 Source: The latest Further Education for Benefit Claimants official statistics publication, published in December 2013, can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-for-benefit-claimants-december-2013.

Unemployed People: Basic Skills

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to paragraph 1.197 of the Autumn Statement 2013, what the expected cost to the public purse will be of the basic skills pilot; how many people will benefit from that pilot; what its start and end dates will be; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The 18-21 Skills for Work pilots will be funded from within the Department's budget settlement as agreed at Autumn Statement 2013.
	Under the pilot, young people making a claim to JSA between the ages of 18 and 21 years will be screened for English and maths below level 2. Those identified as having a skill need will be referred on a mandatory basis to maths or English training.
	It is projected 10,000 JSA claimants will be referred to learning. The pilot will start in late autumn 2014 and last up to nine months.